Clothes hanger attachment



lvlarch 4, 1947. c SUNDSTROM 2,416,779

CLOTHES HANGER ATTACHMENT Filed. Sept. 19, 1945 \INVENTOR. HAROLD c. SUNDSTROM BY' M, MOIM A'rtornevs L Patented Mar. 4, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 1 2,416,779 l f v 1 I CLOTHES HANGER ATTACHMENT Harold C. Sundstrom, CI 1icago,,Ill. Application September 19, 1'94'5,'Serial-N'0. 617,344

This invention relates to clothes hangers and more particularly to a clothes hanger attachment adapted. to be detachably secured to a door or wall and to support a plurality of clothes hangers.

Heretofore, there have been devised door clothes hanger attachments which were adapted to be secured on the inner face or from the top edge of a closet door for the purpose of supporting a number of clothes hangers with various articles of clothing thereon in the interior space within the closet that would normally be wasted. While these prior hanger devices have proven useful andsatisfactory to a limited extent, they nevertheless possessed certain deficiencies in their construction and operation which made them undesirable from the standpoint of the ultimate consumer. The principal reasons for these. deficiencies were inherent in the construction of those prior devices. Because these hanger attachments comprising a bracket member and a bent rodlmember were adapted to be detachably secured together, the securing means or the parts by which the various separate elements were ass sembled as a unit were structurally insufficient andihad'equate to accomplish their intended purposes.

In some devices, separate bosses or detentswere provided to hold the rod member Within the hearing, element of the door bracket. But it was found inactual operation that upon the rapid closing of a closet door with a full load of clothes suspended on hangers from the attachment, the rod member tended to, pivot or lift slightly. away from the bracket and the retaining boss, thereby permitting the rod to spill the clothing on the floor.

Others of these prior devices were such that the rod member had the undesirable tendency of pivoting about a vertical axis with respect to the bracket since there Was no provision for proper bearing engagement against the door or bracket to, prevent such movement; Ifthe door were closed rapidly, the rod member would turn one 5 Claims. (Cl. 211-106) way or the other s'othat the clothing supported thereon would be thrown to one side in a position to be caught between the door andthe jambupon run closing of the door. Also in some structures some part of the rod member was adapted tobear against the door panel with the result thatadditional means such as a pad hadto be provided to prevent disfigurement of the door.

Another disadvantage of several. forms of these earlier attachments resulted from the type of means by which the, bent rod was secured and supported in the bracket. In these forms the ends of the bent rods were held in the bearing 2, members formed from the thin-walled bracket, but when a full load of clothes was hung'on the red, the effect of the load being amplified by the leverage" of the rod, the bearing members alone were unable to withstand the relatively high pressure and consequently gave way and released the rod member; The full load was put onthe bearing members and wasnot" spread over'a wider surface or distributed by a proper' bearing contact between'the rod member and the bracket.

These earlier" devices" also required additional manufacturing operations which necessarily increasedthe cost of production of the article-which was salable primarily in a low' priced field It is, therefore, one" of the objectsof the present invention to provide arrimproved clothes hanger attachment that is adapted tobe detach ably secured to a wallior door and to support a plurality of clothes hangers with clothing there Another object of the present invention is to provide. an improved clothes hanger attachment of the foregoing character wherein the'rod member is securely but detachably secured. to the bracket member; the bearing contact between the rod member and the bracket being such that a fulllo'ad is not put upon the bearing member and no pivotal movement of the rod member I about a vertical axis with respect to the' bracket is permitted.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a strong and efficient door" clothes hanger attachment of simple and inexpensive construction which maybe readily "assembledby the consumer and applied to a door'without' disfigurement thereof.

Other and further objects and advantagesof the present invention will become apparent as this description progresses, reference being hadfto the accompanying drawing; in which:

Figure l is a. perspective view of'a' door-clothes hanger attachment comprising a preferred" em bodiment of my invention;

Fig..2'is a front elevationalview or the same;

and.

Fig. 3' is a side elevational view'of the same. I The door'clothes hanger] attachment; illus; trated in the drawing comprises but three main individual elements i. e., a bracket I 0, athin felt pad. II and a, supporting hanger or rod member 12. The bracket l0 may:be formed froma thin section of strong sheet metal and is of such shape and dimensions to permitits securement tothe top of a door. It comprises a horizontal portion l3, which is adapted extend along thetop -siiring element 11- having openings at each end and which is pushed out from the vertical portion It so as to be integral therewith. 1

The rod member I2 comprises a single length rod that may be bent upon itself and so shaped as to provide a loop I8 at its outer end, a horizontal bottom arm I9, an upwardly extending diagonal arm 20, a short vertical portion 2| extending upwardly from the diagonal arm 20, a longer vertical portion 22 extending upwardly from the bottom horizontal arm I9 and horizontal end portions 23 and 24 which are inwardly di-' rected from the upper extremities of the vertical portions 2| and 22, respectively, The inturned end portions 23 and 24are adapted to be received within the. respective open ends of the horizontal bearing member I! so as to pivotally support the rod member I2 from the bracket IEI for movement about a horizontal axis.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the bottom horizontal arm I9 in assembled position on thebracket I (I is disposed substantially at right angles to the door or to the plane of the vertical, portion lii of the bracket III, while the upwardly extending arm is in a vertical planethat is angular'with respect to the door or bracket I0 and with respect to the horizontalarm I9. As a result, the vertical portions 2| and 22 of the rod member I2 in operable position are spaced apart so as to provide elongated and spaced two point bearing contacts between the rod member i2 and the verticalportion I6 of the bracket I0.

However, it is to be noted that before mounting the rod member I2 in operative-secured position on the bracket ID with its inturned end portions 23 and 24 within the horizontal bearingmember H, the rod member I2 is somewhat difierent in 'shapethan as abovedescribed. In disassembled condition the horizontal bottom arm l9, the diagonal arm 2|}, the'vertical portions 2| and 22 may all Y be in substantially the same vertical plane so that the ends 23 and 24 instead of being inturned toward each other are in effect outwardly directed away from each other. It is not necessary, however, for the purposes of the present invention that the arms in disassembled positionbe inthe same vertical plane, but it is essen- 't'ial that-they be closer together or at a lesser angle withvrespect to each other'than in their secured position. H I a Y Therefore, in mounting th rod member I2 in the bracket I 0 it is necessary to spread apart the arms I9 and 20 against the inherentspring tension of the rod member I2, which'tension tends to restore the various arms to their normal disassembled or unspread positions. The arms I9 and 20 are pulled apart adi'stance somewhat-greater than the width of the bearing member I! so as to permit the inturned ends 23 and 24 to become aligned with andbe received in the open ends of the bearing member. IT when spreading pressure on the arms I9 and 20 is relaxed. Thus u'ndenthe inherent tensionof the rod member I2 its inturneq ends 29 and 24 are securely held within 4 the bearing member I1, and any inadvertent withdrawal or removal therefrom such as would tend to occur when the door is rapidly closed or when the rod member I2 is jarred, is positively prevented. The engagement of the ends 23 and 24 within the bearing member I1 is so secure and positive that their removal therefrom may be accomplished only as a result of the specific intent of the user when disassembly is desired.

It is therefore apparent, in light of the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of my invention, that a door clothes hanger attachment has been provided by which all the deficiencies and disadvantages of the prior devices have been entirely eliminated. It possesses none of the undesirable characteristics and is of such a simple construction that it lends itself to inexpensive production costs and at the same time it is strong and efficient. While it is also capable of being readily assembled and disassembled by the user, it will remain in assembled and in clothes supporting position under all extreme operating conditions.

The tendency of the rod member I2 to swing or pivot on a vertical axis with respect to the bracket H] is successfully prevented by the spaced two point bearing engagement of the vertical rod portions 2| and 22 with the vertical face |6 of the bracket IB- in conjunction with the engagement between theinturned rod. ends 23 and 24 and the bearing member I1. Also, because of the elongated engagement of the vertical "rod portion 2| and of the upp'erend of the vertical rod'portion 22 against an extended area of the vertical face IGof the bracket I9, the bearing member I! is relieved of much ofits load. Since the rod member I2 is pivotally supported at its upper ends, the effect of a load of clothing suspended on hangers from the horizontal rod arm I9 is to pull thevertical rod portions 2| and 22 about the pivot point I? and down into engagement against the verticalface I6 of the bracket l0. Thus, the forces exerted against the bearing member I! are not direct but they are distributed over a Wider area of the bracket ill, the bearing member I! serving to hold the upper ends 23 and 24 of the rod member, I2 in against the bracket. 7

Another advantage resulting from the aforesaid bearing engagement is that the rod mem ber I2 is not caused to contact any part of the door 'so 'as to mar the same or require the provision of a pad. Instead, the thrust of the veritical portions 2| and 2'2 of the rod member I2 as it turns. about its pivot point I? is solely against the bracket face It and not a'gains't'the door 'therebelow; V

Although there has been shown in the drawings and described above one preferred embodie ment of my invention, it'will be apparent that variations and modifications, thereof may be made withoutdeparting" from the underlying principles ofthe invention. f It is intended, there+- foreQby the following claims toi-ncludejwithin the scope of theirinvention all such variationsand,

modifications by which substantially the results of substantially. the samep'r' equivalent me if.

11A clothes hanger attachment comprising a bracket adapted to befsecured to a door or wall, substantially horizontal bearingmeans on the outer I vertical surface of said bracket, andfa hanger member detachably and pivotally jsupported in said'bearing means for pivotal movement substantially on a horizontal axis, said hanger member having a horizontally extending arm, a diagonally and upwardly extending arm integrally connected at its outer end to the outer end of said horizontal arm and extending angularly thereto, a relatively short vertical portion extending upwardly from the inner end of said angularly disposed arm, a relatively long vertical portion extending upwardly from the inner end of said horizontal arm and horizontally directed end portions at the upper extremities of said vertical portions adapted to be received within said horizontal bearing means, said arms comprising spring elements adapted to be moved horizontally and angularly with respect to each other to permit insertion of said horizontal end portions Within the horizontal hearing means and to maintain said end portions within said bearing means under the inherent tensiona] urge of said arms to restore themselves to their normal relative positions.

2. A clothes hanger attachment comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to a door or wall, a substantially horizontal bearing member on the outer vertical surface of said bracket, and a hanger member detachably and pivotally supported in said bearing member for pivotal movement substantially on a horizontal axis, said hanger member having outwardly extending arms angularly disposed relative to each other and integrally connected at their outer ends, vertical portions extending upwardly from the inner ends of said arms and inwardly and horizontally directed end portions at the upper extremities of said vertical portions adapted to be received and maintained within said bearing member, said arms comprising spring elements adapted to be forced apart under tension. to permit insertion of the inwardly directed end portions within the bearing member and to maintain said end portions within said bearing member under the inherent tensional urge of said arms to restore themselves to their normal relative positions.

3. A clothes hanger attachment comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to a door or wall, a substantially horizontal bearing member on the outer vertical surface of said bracket, and a hanger member detachably and pivotally supported in said bearing member for pivotal movement substantially on a horizontal axis, said hanger member having a horizontally extending arm, an upwardly and diagonally extending arm integrally connected at its outer end to the outer end of said horizontal arm and extendingangularly thereto, a relatively short vertical portion extending upwardly from'the inner end of said angularly disposed arm, a relatively long vertical portion extending upwardly from the inner end of said horizontal arm and horizontally and inwardly directed end portions at the upper extremities of said vertical portions adapted to be restore themselves to their normal relative positions.

4. A clothes hanger attachment comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to a door or wall, a substantially horizontal bearing member on the outer vertical surface of said bracket, and a hanger member detachably and pivotally supported in said bearing member for pivotal movement substantially on a horizontal axis, the hanger member having a horizontally extending arm, an upwardly and diagonally extending arm integrally connected at itsouter end to the outer end of said horizontal arm and extending angularly thereto, a relatively short vertical portion extending upwardly from the inner end of said angularly disposed arm, a relatively long vertical portion extending upwardly from the inner end of said horizontal arm and horizontally and inwardly directed end portions at the upper extremities of said vertical portions adapted to be received and maintained within said bearing member, said arms and said vertical portions being disposed in substantially the same vertical plane when disengaged from said bearing member but adapted to be forced apart under tension into two converging vertical planes for insertion and maintenance of the inwardly directed end portions within the bearing member.

5. A clothes hanger attachment comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to a door or wall, a substantially horizontal bearing member on the outer vertical surface of said bracket, and a hanger member detachably and pivotally supported in said bearing member for pivotal movement substantially on a horizontal axis, the hanger member having a horizontally extending arm, an upwardly and diagonally extending arm integrally received and maintained within said bearing connected at its outer end to the outer end of said horizontal arm and extending angularly thereto, a relatively short vertical portion extending upwardly from the inner end of said angularly disposed arm, a relatively long vertical portion extending upwardly from the inner end of said horizontal arm and horizontally and inwardly directed end portions at the upper extremities of said vertical portions adapted to be received and maintained within said bearing member, said arms comprising spring elements adapted to be forced apart under tension to permit insertion of the inwardly directed end por- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 941,653 Rothengatter Nov. 30, 1909 2,231,128 Krantz Feb, 11, 1941 1,383,597 Bruce July 5, 1921 1,955,223 Brouyette Apr. 17, 1934 1,957,177 Lester May 1, 1934 

